[mtendler]

[Posted from Wall Street Journal]

This week's column was, in a sense, written in blood. It's a review of a new consumer medical device, and to test it, I had to prick my fingertips several times a day to produce a droplet of blood that the gadget could analyze.

The product, called the Contour USB, is an interesting new computer-savvy blood-glucose test meter for diabetics, made by the big pharmaceutical company, Bayer. As a diabetic myself, I've been using a more traditional version of such a meter to test my blood several times daily for years. So do millions of others.

What makes the $75 Bayer Contour USB different from typical meters is that it looks and works like a common USB thumb drive, so it was born to integrate with personal computers. It plugs right into a PC or Mac without the need for any cables, and contains—built right in—software you can run on your computer for analyzing your test results. That's helpful for both diabetics and their doctors, who need to understand the trends in the amount of glucose in the blood to make decisions on medication, diet and exercise.

After testing the Contour USB for five days, I found it worked pretty well and consider it a promising step in diabetes care. More information is at bayercontourusb.com, and the meter can be purchased at the Web site of the drug chain Walgreens and at drugstore.com.

But I am neither a doctor nor a diabetes expert, and I am not advising anyone to switch his or her meter without first consulting a medical professional.

The Contour USB is a compact, rectangular device with a USB connector on one end and a slot for glucose test strips, which collect the blood from the droplet, on the other. The face of the device has a color screen and three buttons that allow you to navigate simple menus.

Loaded inside is a software program called Glucofacts Deluxe that runs on either a Windows PC or Macintosh once you pop the meter into a USB port. It launches directly from the meter's internal memory, which also contains your test results plus free space for anything else you wish to store on it.

The software reads the glucose results from the meter, and displays them in various logs, charts and graphs, which can be printed out or saved as a file on the computer. The user can provide the printouts to the doctor or email the files containing the data.

This mating of a glucose meter and a computer isn't a new idea. Many brands of meters can be used with computer programs via extra-cost cables. But because the Bayer device builds in both the USB connector and the software, it makes this process easier than it has typically been. (Another new meter, called Myglucometer, is on the same path. It uses Bluetooth wireless technology to beam results to a PC.)
In my tests, the Contour USB proved quick and easy to use. When you're actually doing the blood testing, it works pretty much like any other meter, and a computer isn't involved. The meter's color screen does, by default, ask you to designate whether the reading was taken before or after a meal, an extra step that can make the results more meaningful. But this feature can be turned off. And there's an option that allows you to add a canned note, like "Sick," or "Stress," to any reading.

The real payoff comes when you plug the meter into a computer and launch the software, which helps you see the trends in your glucose levels over time. For instance, it can plot in various ways how often you stayed in a target zone and when you deviated. I tested this on Windows and Macintosh computers, and it worked. But there were some downsides.

For one thing, to launch the Glucofacts Deluxe software on your computer, you have to click on an obscure-sounding file name. It's supposed to run automatically in Windows, but I never could get it to do that.

Also, on Windows, the software required me twice to install a new component. And the program is incompatible with Apple's latest operating system, Snow Leopard. Bayer says it is working on solving the problem.

Another feature some may see as a downside is that the meter's sealed battery can't be replaced. But the company sees the freedom from buying batteries as an advantage for heavy users, and claims that even a one-minute recharge session will allow for several tests.

My biggest disappointment with the Contour USB was that it doesn't provide any way to upload your results to an online repository, where you and your doctor might view them. And the new meter doesn't tie in with online medical portals from companies such as Google and Microsoft. Bayer says it plans an online component for the Contour USB.

Despite these flaws, I consider the Bayer Contour USB to be a welcome move toward integrating home testing with the digital world.

—Find all of Walt Mossberg's columns and videos online, free, at the All Things Digital Web site, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

[glhbuddy]

This new monitor sounds very good. Sounds like it will keep your records better on your computer unless you check your glucose when coming out of the YMCA or anywhere when you are not at your PC. If you use a lap top and have it with you most of the time that you need to check your glucose then the new monitor sounds very good.

[Landlockedintexas]

The poster seemed to believe that you needed access to a computer at the time of testing on the Contour USB. This is not the case. It works just fine without connecting to the computer.

[wkmccall]

I purchased my Bayer Contour USB online at the CVS Pharmacy website. It was on sale and plus, since I use CVS regularly, I had "extra bucks" to apply toward the purchase. I picked mine up for around $34.00; a lot cheaper from anywhere else I looked.
It works great on my laptop. The GlucoFacts Deluxe launches automatically and then prompts me to download the readings (I think you can have it do it automatically also).
Since I travel a lot and often find myself parked a rest area or by the road testing, I don't have to enter anything into a log book (which I continue to do though).
The only thing I've found that I don't like about it is the case. The elastic strips inside case don't exactly lend themselves to one-handed removal or replacement of the lancet device or the test strips tube (unlike the last accu-check I previously used).
The battery has a long life if you're only testing. It might expend faster if the log is constantly checked though.

The only thing about the software I don't care for is that its created in Java and the fact you can't edit the reading the meter does, but you can manually enter reading and those can be edited.
The only meter readings you can edit is done right on the meter and that's only changing it to or from No Mark, Before Meal or After Meal.
You can set your own ranges in the software though.

[jhsis]

The meter works fine. However, there is no way to record medication, so it is not an electronic log book. The UltraSmart II is a more complete logging meter, although the computer interface is a somewhat dated serial to USB cable.

I like the color screen though.

[ddog1971]

I have it and love it. On sale for $9.99 at Costco.com until the end of December.

[rsearley]

I have the contour USB here in the uk.. I have 4 or 5 other monitors too.

I have to say that so far the contour USB is the best, it's small and rather smart looking and works on either mac or pc, or just as good stand alone

The strip port can light up for use in poor light. I would highly recommend the contour USB

[tybirdtybird]

I forget to say I'm getting this for my dad & maybe my mom to. There accu chek meter. Was to big to carry around. Don't think it's reading right.

I'm glad you all like it.

Ty

[tybirdtybird]

I just got the meter Monday.

The Good
The only thing i like about it its small really easy to Carry around with you.

The Bad

Is only good for one person only.

There is now way of tell the meter what reading is for what person. Was using meter for my mom and dad have both reading on it.

So when you want to print out the report to take to your Dr. how can the Dr tell what reading is for what person ???????

There is no way of Removing the reading form the meter and software.

Why does the software let you have more than one person ???????

I sent Bayer an email and let them have it to.

I'm taking it back.

[generalcustard]

The best website I could find to buy this on was diabetessuppliesplus http://www.diabetessuppliesplus.com/BCUMK.html
I DEFINITELY COULDN'T FIND FOR $9.99 but neither is it $75 anymore.